Well-drilling bit



March 19, 1929. J. c. WRIGHT ET AL WELL DRILLING BIT Filed Nov. 15, 1 927 The/r AV/o/ney Patented Mar. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE.

JESSE C. WRIGHT; QF HUNTINGTON PARK, AND LYNN E BONREY, LOS ANGELES,

CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOBS TO WIEMAN, KAMHEBE R, WRIGHT 00., 0., A CORPORA- T1011 01 CALIFORNIA. I

WELL-DRILLING BIT.

Application filed November 15, 1927. Serial a... cause.

This invention has to do-with a well drilling bit, and it is an object of the invent on to provide an improved bit for use in drilling with the rotary method.

It is an objebt of-this inventlon to provide a well drilling bit having an improved arrangement and combination of cuttm parts whereby it operates to make an annu at out in the formation being drilled and then destroys the core or center left standlng by the annular cut. I I x It is-another object of this invention to provide a bit of the character ment oned which will operate smoothly and effectively. A further object of the invention is taprovide an improved cutter unit for a bit of the character mentioned.

Another object of the invention is to mvide a bit of the character mentioned, a ing upwardly and inwardly stepped cutting parts operable to destroy the core left standing by the outer cutters. A g

The various objects and features of the mvention will be" best and more fully under- 2 stood from the following detailed de'scnption of typical forms and applications of the invention, throughout which descri tion ref-v cream is had to the accompanying rawings, ,in which: I

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the bit provided by this invention;

- Fig. 2 is a bottom or lower end elevation of the bit, bein a view taken as indicated by 'line 2-2 on ig.1 i n 'Fig. 3 is a transverse, sectional view of the bit, taken as" indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 1,-showing the parts in the course of being assembled; V c

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the parts assembled ready for operation;

Fig. bis a detailed, sectional view, takenas indicated by line 5f5 on Fig. 4; 1

Fig. 6 is a detailed, sectional View, taken as indicated by line 66 on Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing a modified form ofv construction. I The bit rovided by this invention is of the type w ich has outer cutting means op ,erating to make an annular out in the formation, and'inner cut-tin means above the outer cuttingmeans opera le to destroy the core left standing by the outer cutting means.

' string of drill The, present inventiqn' provides certain iihproved features of 'construction'and arran ement of parts in a bit of this type and, or purpose of example, we have set forth one embodiment of the invention whichwe have found to be practical and efficient.

The bit comprises, generally, a body or shank 10 and a cutter unit 11 carried by the lower end of 'the shank. The shank 10 is adapted to be applied to the lower end of a (pipe, or the like. In accord ance with stan ard practice, we have shown the upper end of the shank provided with a tapered, screw-threaded pin12 for connection with a string of drill pipe, and we have shown an enlargement or head 13 on the upper end portion of the shank providing a downwardly facing shoulder 14 to be engaged by an over- .shot, or the like, in the event that the tool is lost in the well. In accordance with our in-,

vention, the lower end portion of the shank is somewhat enlarged and is forked or divided into two spaced legs 15. The legs 15 are located diametrically opposite each other and are substantially quadrant-a1 in cross sec tional configurationso that each has a fiat, substantially radial, forward face 16, a curved outer face 17 co-axial with the central longitudinal axis of the-bit, and a substantially flat, radially disposed rear face 18. The forward faces 16 of the two legs are parallel and spaced somewhat on opposite sides of a central diametrically disposed plane, The forward outer. corner of-each leg, that is, the corner forinedbetweenthe inner face 16 and outer face 17 is notched or cut away at 19, forming a toe 60 at the forward lower corner of the leg.

The cutter unit 11 ma i be a sin le or integral construction, as s own in 6 of the drawings, or it ma be forme in sections, as shown in Fig. 7 o' the drawings. In either case, the principal or working parts of the cutter'may e the same and, therefore, it is to be understood that the following description applies to either form of construction, exce t where specifically noted.

he cutter 11 is adaptedjo be ap the legs 15 of the shank ariiii is provi ed with cutting teeth toproject downwardly'from the lower ends of the legs to make, the desired cut in the formation beingdrilled. In ac cordance with our invention. the cutter is deis.1to,

si ed and roportioned to surround the legs 0 the sha so that it is effectively and securely carried by the legs and protects the' lower ends of the egs, and cutting parts car-.

ried or formed on the above mentioned parts as will be hereinafter described. a The central or diametrically disposed web 20 fits into or occupies the space between the planes of the front faces 16. The curved outer parts 21 extend around or cover the outer surfaces 17 of the legs, and are curved concentric with the central axis of the bit. The bottom parts 22 of the cutter join the web and outer parts 21 and are designed to receive or be engaged bythe lower-ends of the le s. In practice, the exact configuration of the ottom arts 22 may vary with the proportioning and configuration of the lower ends of the legs.

In accordance with our invention, each of the bottom parts 22 of the cutter carries teeth 30 and 31 operable to make an annular cut in the formation being drilled. The teeth 30 and 31 project downwardly a considerable distance from the bottom 22 and are designed and dressed so that the teeth 30 make the outer portion of the annular out, while the teeth 31 make the inner portion of the annular cut. In the particular construction shown in the drawings, there are two teeth 30 and one tooth 31 projecting downwardly from each bottom part 22. In this case, one of the teeth 30 is at the forward end of the bottom part 22, the tooth 31 is at the rear end of the part 22, and the other tooth 30 is located between the said teeth'30 and 31. The teeth 30 project downwardly and somewhat outwardly from the bottom 22 and each is provided at its lower end with a cutting edge 34. The cutting edges 34 of the teeth 30 are preferably pitched or inclined sothat they extend rearwardly a and inwardly with reference to a radial line,

as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The teeth 39 project radially outwardly from the other parts of the cutterv far enough to cut the desired outward clearance for the tool. The cutter -31 projects downwardly from the rear portion of the bottom 22 and is designed to make the inner portion of the annular cut. The lower end of the tooth 31 is provided with a cutting edge 35 preferably pitched to extend outwardly and rearwardly with reference to a radial line. In practice, the cutting edges of the teeth are faced with a hard cut ting alloy ap e by welding. The teeth 30 and 31, constituting the outer cutting means,

operate to make an annular cut in the formation leaving a core standing in the center of the ore.

The inner cutting means is provided above and inwardly of the teeth 30 and 31 for the purpose of cutting awa or destroying the core. In accordance wit our present mvention, the inner cutting means comprises blades 40 and 41 arranged in an upwardly and inwardly stepped relation. There is a blade 40 and a blade 41 carried by or projecting from the web 20 at each side of the central axis of the bit. lowermost cutter of the inner cutting means, and projects downwardly a substantial'distance below the bottom 22. The blade 41 is inward of the blade 40 and its cutting edge-is located well above that of the blade 40, for instance, at about the level of the bottom part 22. The blades 40 and 41 may be substantially radial and may be of about equal length or extent. In practice, the blades may be pitched in any suitable manner. We have found it advantageous to form the blades 40 so that they extend horizontally and form the blades 41 so that they extend somewhat upwardly and inwardly. The paths of theblades 40 and 41 over-lap or join so that they form a continuousor complete cutting means for the core. It is to be understood that the inner cutting means may comprise any desired number of blades arranged in the stepped relation just described.

In accordance with our present invention, the cutter above described is made secure on the legs 15 by means of retaining bolts 50 and lugs 51 formed between the curved outer parts 21 and the web 20 to extend into the notches 19 and thus engage over the toes 60 into the sockets, it 1s first arranged with reference to the legs, as shown in Fig. 3, with the toes opposite the sockets and is then rotated as indicated by the arrow B in Fig. 3 until the toes are seated in the sockets, as shown in Fig. 4. The retaining bolts 50 are provided to-hold the cutter against rotation in a manner to disengage the toes from the sockets. In the arrangement shown, the bolts extend through the outer parts 21 of the cutter and through flanges 62 projecting from the rear sides of the legs. We have shown one bolt 50 holding each side part of the cutter. When the bit'is in operation, the cutter tends to tighten onto the legs, that is, it is forced in the direction indicated by the arrow B and, therefore, the retaining bolts 50 The blade 40 is the outermost and openings I outer cutters projecting downwardly along a central vertical line into two sections. In this case, the construction may be the same as that above the cutter sections, that is, the parts of the cutter at the two sides of the central axis'can be" handled independently. I

Our invention provides a circulation opening 7 0 extending downwardly from the top of the shank and communicating with outlet openings 71 and 72 in the legs 15. The 71 and 72 are located and disposed to direct the circulating fluid onto the cutting parts to-keep them washed free of cuttings andmud.

Having described only typical preferred forms of our invention, we limit ourselves to the specific details set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. bit of the character described including a shank having spaced legs, and cutting means attached to the legs and including from the outer peripheral portions of the legs, each of said outer cutters having a plurality of teeth, a web extending between the outer cutters and engaging the forward portions of the legs, and inner cutters carried by said web above and inward of the outer cutters.

2. A bit of the character described includ-' ing a shank having spaced legs, and cutting means attached to the lo s and includingouter cutters projecting downwardly from the outer peripheral portions of the legs, a web extending between the outer cutters and engaging the forward portions of the legs, and inner cutters carried by said web above and inward of the outer cutters, the inner cut ters being stepped upwardly and inwardly from the path of the outer cutters to the central axis of the bit.

3. A bit of the character described including a shank havin spaced legs, and cutting means attached tot e legs and including outer parts engaging around the outer sides of the legs, web parts connected with the outer parts and extending across the fronts of the legs, outer cutters projecting downwardly and outwardly from said outer parts to make an annular but, and inner cutters-on the web parts above the outer cutters to cut away the formation left by the 0 uter cutters.

4. 1 A bit of the character described includ ing a shank "havingspaced legs, and cutting means attached to the legs and including outer parts engaging around the outer sides of the legs, means attaching the outer parts to the legs, web parts connected with the outer parts and extending across the. fronts of the legs, outer cutters projecting downwardly 'and outwardly from said' outer parts to make 'an annular cut, and innercutters on the web described except that do not wish to mation left by the ing a der the legs,

.the web parts above away the formation left by the parts above the outer cutters to cut away the formation left by the outer cutters.

5. A bit of the character described including a shank having spaced legs, and cutting means attached to the legs and including outer parts engaging around the outer sides of the legs, bolts attaching the outer parts to the legs, web parts connected Withthe outer parts and extending across the fronts of the legs, outer cutters projecting downwardly and outwardly from said outer parts to make an annular'cut, and inner cutters on the web parts above the outer cutters to cutaway the formation left by the outer cutters.

I 6. A bit of the character described includin means attached to the legs and including outer parts engaging around the outer sides of the legs, a continuous Web part extending between the outer parts and engaging the fronts of the legs, outer cutters projecting a shank having spaced legs, and cutting parts to make an annular cut, and inner cutters on the web parts above the outer cutters to cut away the formation left by the outer cutters. j

7. A bit of thecharacter described including a shank having spaced legs, and cutting means attached to the legs and including outer parts engaging around the outer sides of the legs, bottom parts engaging .under the legs, web parts connected with the outer parts and extending across the fronts of the legs, outer cutters projecting downwardly and outwardly from said outerparts to make. an annular cut, and inner cutters on the web parts abovethe outer cutters to cut away the forouter cutters. 8. A bit of the character described includshank having spaced legs, and unitary attached to the legs and including outer parts engaging around the outer sides of the legs, bottom parts engagingunweb parts connected with the outer arts and extending across the fronts of he egs, outer cutters projecting downwardl and outwardly from said outer parts to ma e an annular cut, and inner cutters on cutting means outer cutters. 9.} A bit of the character described including a shank having spaced legs with laterally projecting toes, and cutting'means attached to'the legs and having engagement with the toes. "I

10. A bitof the character described including a shank having spaced legswith toes at their lower ends, and cutting means attached to the legs and having parts engaging around the toes. I

' In witness that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto subscribed our names this 1st day of ovember 1927.v

JESSE o. WRIGHT; LYNN F, 'BONNEY.

the outer cutters to cut 

